Angels fans return to stadium, hoping for tickets

Angels fans line up for the second day in a row, hoping to trade in their prepurchased voucher for game day tickets for the 2012 season. Fans with wristbands from Tuesday got preference over other voucher holders without wristbands. Marla Jo Fisher, Orange County Register

Most were sent home empty-handed before the end of the day Tuesday, after being told the box office could not handle the unexpected demand.

Angels staff said not everyone would be able to get their tickets by the end of Wednesday, either, and would be told to go home and return.

"They should be embarrassed, but they are acting like it's everyone else's fault," complained Heather Krstich of Orange, who had first arrived Tuesday morning at 8:30 and on Wednesday returned to the stadium, hoping to be able to select her seats. After waiting some more, she left and planned to come back later, hoping the line would die down.

Robert Alvarado, vice-president of marketing and ticket sales for the Angels, was out overseeing the crowds Wednesday morning.

He said he sent the letter to Angels fans warning them that they should redeem their vouchers early because last year, some fans came to the park on game day and had to be turned away, when tickets weren't available.

"We undercommunicated last year how the program works, so this year we wanted to make sure people understood," Alvarado said.

Multi-game plans that involve vouchers were sold to some 7,000 people, he said, estimating that 20-30 percent more were sold than last year.

"It appears about 1,000 of those people turned up yesterday," Alvarado said, referring to a huge lineup of people at the stadium Tuesday, only a fraction of whom actually walked away with tickets. "The other 6,000 didn't feel the need to run down here."

Alvarado said the box office gave out some 8,500 tickets Tuesday for 50 games — a fraction of all the seats theoretically available.

"We have plenty of seats, there is no reason to panic," Alvarado said. "But we still encourage people to come down and redeem early. There will be plenty of tickets for the games you want over the next 30 days."

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Angels fans line up for the second day in a row, hoping to trade in their prepurchased voucher for game day tickets for the 2012 season. Fans with wristbands from Tuesday got preference over other voucher holders without wristbands. Marla Jo Fisher, Orange County Register
Earlier, Angels fans had purchased discounted ticket plans such as this one, which sold a certain number of vouchers that fans needed to bring to the ticket window and exchange for actual game tickets. March 6 was the first day that the vouchers could be exchanged, creating a huge demand from fans anxious to get tickets for the games they wanted to see. Marla Jo Fisher, Orange County Register
The letter from the Angels organization telling fans to redeem their vouchers early. This sparked the huge crowds this week. Marla Jo Fisher, Orange County Register
Angels staff set up lines as people began lining up early Wednesday morning, hoping to obtain 2012 game tickets using vouchers they had already purchased. Marla Jo Fisher, Orange County Register
The large crowds at the stadium attracted a couple of local TV news vans to the scene Marla Jo Fisher, Orange County Register
Pete Cote of Mission Viejo brought a chair to wait in line and a clipboard to finalize his game selections. "I would rate them zero," he said about the redemption system. "Yesterday everyone was frustrated and cold and then, after all that, you still had to come back." Marla Jo Fisher, Orange County Register
Angels VP Robert Alvarado chats with Peter Salomon of Laguna Beach, who was returning for the second day in a row hoping to redeem his vouchers at Angel Stadium Marla Jo Fisher, Orange County Register
Angels fan Heather Krstich waited Tuesday and then returned Wednesday, only to leave again without redeeming her vouchers. "They have all our email addresses, they could use that to communicate with people about what's going on. They also have a website and a Facebook page, but they're silent, rude and disorganized."
Voucher holders were not happy to trek all the way to the outer reaches of the parking lot to the only restroom that was open, after waiting in line for hours. Marla Jo Fisher, Orange County Register
Justin McBride of Mission Viejo was among many fans who came in full Angel regalia. Sometimes this made it hard to tell the Angels staff from the ardent fans. Marla Jo Fisher, Orange County Register
Wristband worn by Cindi Randles, who was trying to redeem vouchers for her husband Marla Jo Fisher, Orange County Register
Casey Ashton of Costa Mesa returned for the second day Wednesday. He said he waited until the windows closed on Tuesday and was not happy with Angels management. Marla Jo Fisher, Orange County Register
Ryan Silva of Downey came back for the second day in a row. He stood in line Tuesday for hours, but gave up after "it got too painful" to wait on crutches with a torn hamstring. He was trying to get seats together for a special family party. Marla Jo Fisher, Orange County Register
TV reporters interview fans waiting in line, hoping to trade their vouchers in for tickets Marla Jo Fisher, Orange County Register
Angel fans wait in line to get game tickets at the stadium on Wednesday in Anaheim. Many fans were turned away on Tuesday after the stadium couldn't handle the demand for tickets. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A worker removes a sign as fans wait in line for tickets at Angel Stadium on Wednesday in Anaheim. Many fans were turned away on Tuesday after the stadium couldn't handle the demand for tickets. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Jakeb Kosareff, from Buena Park, chooses the games he wants tickets for at Angel Stadium on Wednesday. Many fans were turned away on Tuesday after the stadium couldn't handle the demand for tickets. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Madison Bull, 15 months, waits for her mom Angelique to get Angels game tickets at the Stadium on Wednesday in Anaheim. The pair, from Moreno Valley, waited 5 hours on Tuesday and 5 hours on Wednesday for their tickets. Many fans were turned away on Tuesday after the stadium couldn't handle the demand for tickets. "We're all here for the common purpose", she said, "and that's to see them win another championship. It's nice to see the support for the Angels." PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Nicole Ramos waits in line for Angels game tickets with her son Joaquin, 9 months, on Wednesday in Anaheim. Nicole's husband waited 7 hours on Tuesday to get tickets only to be told to come back on Wednesday. Nicole had been in line two hours on Wednesday with about 50 people ahead of her. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Madison Bull, 15 months, waits for her mom Angelique to get Angels game tickets at the stadium on Wednesday in Anaheim. The pair, from Moreno Valley, waited 5 hours on Tuesday and 5 hours on Wednesday for their tickets. Many fans were turned away on Tuesday after the stadium couldn't handle the demand for tickets. "We're all here for the common purpose", she said, "and that's to see them win another championship. It's nice to see the support for the Angels." PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Angel fans wait in line to get game tickets at Angel Stadium on Wednesday in Anaheim. Many fans were turned away on Tuesday after the stadium couldn't handle the demand for tickets. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Angel fans wait in line to get game tickets at Angel Stadium on Wednesday in Anaheim. Many fans were turned away on Tuesday after the stadium couldn't handle the demand for tickets. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The line ahead is reflected in the glasses of Mike Littleton, of Costa Mesa, as he waits to get game tickets at Angel Stadium on Wednesday. Many fans were turned away on Tuesday after the stadium couldn't handle the demand for tickets. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Richard Hartman, of Fullerton, shows the Angels game tickets he bought after a long wait in line at Angel Stadium on Wednesday. He didn't seem to mind the wait though. "It's kind of exciting that so many people are interested", he said. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Angel fans wait in line to get game tickets at the stadium on Wednesday in Anaheim. Many fans were turned away on Tuesday after the stadium couldn't handle the demand for tickets. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Angel fans but their game tickets at the stadium on Wednesday in Anaheim. Many fans were turned away on Tuesday after the stadium couldn't handle the demand for tickets. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Angel fans but their game tickets at the stadium on Wednesday in Anaheim. Many fans were turned away on Tuesday after the stadium couldn't handle the demand for tickets. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Angel fans wait in line to get game tickets at the stadium on Wednesday in Anaheim. Many fans were turned away on Tuesday after the stadium couldn't handle the demand for tickets. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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